If you have any reason to believe you may have acquired an infection through unprotected sex, you should not donate. We do test all blood donations for certain infections, but, unfortunately, no test is perfect.

Plus, even though safe sex practices are vital to the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, 'protected sex' is not 100 percent effective. Therefore, the Blood Service's guidelines relating to sexual activity are based on the higher rates of infection in certain population groups.

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions, you won’t be able to donate for 12 months after the last occurrence of any of these sexual activities.

Have you ever thought you could be infected with HIV or have AIDS?

In the last 12 months, have you engaged in sexual activity with someone who you think might answer ‘yes’ to these questions:

Have they injected drugs not prescribed by a doctor or dentist?

Do they have an infection of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)?

Have they had treatment with clotting factors?

Since your last donation, or in the last 12 months, have you had sexual activity with a new partner who currently lives or has previously lived overseas?

Within the last 12 months have you:

Had oral or anal sex with another man, even ‘safer sex’ using a condom (if you’re a man)

Had sex (with or without a condom) with a male who you think may have had oral or anal sex (with or without a condom) with another man?

Been a male or female sex worker (e.g. received payment for sex in money, gifts or drugs?)